Humidifier



Oct. 26,1926. 1,604,295

. B. M. MILLS HUMIDIFIER Filed Oct. 25, 1923 or fieriram J' 222a B. M. MRLLS I HUMIDIFIER Filed Oct. 1923 2 Sheets-Shes: 2

Inveniof BerZInm JZ. J'ZZ'ZZ 5 W W Patented 26, 1926.

STAT

BERTRAM M. MILLS, 0F P AWT'UT, RHODE ISLAND.

'UMIDIFIER.

Application filed October 23, 1923. Serial No. 670,257.

This invention pertains to "air moisteners or humidifiers and relates more particularly to humidifiers of the portable type employed for conditioning the air in dwellings, apartments, ofiices, etc., although in certain of its aspects capable of employ ment in humidifiers of other types.

Principal objects of the invention are to provide a compact, efficient and light weight humidifier of portable type substantially noiseless in operation, of simple mechanical construction, and having a pleasingexternal appearance.

In the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example:

Fig. 1 being a vertical section of the improved humidifier;

Fig. 2 a side elevation to smaller scale; and

Fig. 3 a fragmentary horizontal section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a shallow circular receptacleillustrated as consisting of the base member 2 and the top member 3 suitably united at the joint 4. The parts of this receptacle as well as most of the other parts of the humidifier may conveniently be made from sheet material. such, for example, as sheet brass, and while the receptacle as illustrated, consists of two parts suitably united, an integral structure may be substituted therefor if desired.

The side walls of the receptacle 1 are preferably curved upwardly and inwardly, and the inner portion of the member 3 terminates in the substantially vertical flange 5.which defines a top openin of relatively large diameter, the receptac e proper thus being of flatly bulbous shape. A retaining ring 6 fits snugly within the flange 5. This ring is furnished with one or more projections 7 which removably fit within bayonet slots 8 in the flange 5. The ring 6 is furnished with an inwardly and downwardly inclined flange 9 which terminates in a vertical flange 10. An annular substantially horizontal flange 11 extends inwardly from the lower edge of the flange 10 and defines a large bentral o ening 12. The inclined flange 9 is provide with a water-level opening 9'.

top opening and comprises a substantially flat circular top member having a downwardly turned flange 16 at its edge. From the lower edge of the flange 16 an outwardly and downwardly inclined flange 17 extends, and a vertical flange 18 depends from the outer edge of the flange 17. This flange 18 is slitted vertically and the metal intervening between the slits is bent angularly thus providing a series of inclined vanes 19. The lower ends of the vanes 19 rest upon the upper surfaces of the annular flange 11 of the retaining ring, the vanes fitting snugly against the inner surfaces of the vertical flange 10 of said ring so that the cover 15 is supported in concentric spaced relation to the top opening in the receptacle. To secure the cover 15 securely in position a few vanes 19 (six for example) are bent outwardly through slots in part 10 at recurrent intervals, one of these bent vanes being illustrated at 19' in Figs. 1 and 3.

The horizontal top member of the cover 15 is provided with a plurality of openings (preferably three) spaced symmetrically about its center, in which spool-like s eeves or plugs 21 are positioned. These plugs are formed of some resilient material such, for example, as soft rubber, and have enlarged rims or flanges 22 at their topsand bottoms by means of which they are retained in position in the openings. The resiliency of these sleeves permits them to be sprung into the openings in assembling the device,

A heavy base plate 23'rests upon the upper ends of the several sleeves 21 which,

, in the arrangement illustrated, furnish a three point support for the base plate. The plate is provided with downwardly projecting pins 24 which enter the openings 25 in the respective sleeves 21, the pins being of a diameter substantially smaller than that of the openings so that the base plate may move freely to a limitedextent relatively to the cover 15. The plate is also provided with an oil duct 23 for lubricating the lower bearing of the motor. I

A motor 26 is mounted upon ,the base plate 23 as, for example, by the provision of a hub 30 secured to the shaft by means of a set screw 31 and carrying a disk member 32 of a diameter substantially as large as the space within the cover member permits. This disk may if desired be exactly perpendicular to the axis of the shaft but as 'here illustrated is slightly dished on its.

under side, terminating in a bevelled edge 33. An elongate tapered hub .34 projects downwardly from the lower surface of the disk extending nearly to thebottom of the receptacle 1 and to a point well below the normal liquid level.

' member and which is held in concentric repolished outer surface to avoi The motor is preferably enclosed by means of a hollow shell 35 whose lower edge rests upon the inclined flange 17 of the cover lation to thelatter by engagement with the flange or shoulder 16. Preferably the shell 35 is of dome-like contour, that is to say, itis approximately hemispherical or hemispheroidal, preferably havin a smoothly the accumulation of dust.

The conductor cord 37 for the motor preferably passes outwardly through openings in the member 35 and in the flange 13, thus passing transversely across the an 'nular discharge passage 20 between the vanes 19 and'the retaining ring 6. In order to, protect the conductor cord from the action of the vapor arising through this space an insulating tube 38 of hard rubber or other suitable material is arranged to extend from the dome member 35 to the flange 13.

The advantages to be derived from proper humidificat-ion of the air "of the rooms of dwellings, oifices, etc., are generally reccognized, but most apparatus heretofore devised for the purpose has found little favor due principally, I believe, to the unpleasant noise or hum emitted during 0 ration, to its high cosh-and to the c rsome and unsightly form in which it has commonly been embodied.

neoaaee In the course of a long series of experi ments, I have discovered that the noise or hum may to a certain degree he lessened. by" the employment of a low speed motor for driving the atomizing disk, but the price of such motors is proit to be due to the fact that true atomi--' 'zation takes place only when the droplets of liquid have attained a definite centrifugal velocity suficient to-overcome their molecular cohesion or surface tension, and that when such a speed has been reached the droplets actually burst into their constituent molecules, giving rise to a true vapor which is substantially invisible and which is immediately absorbed by the air.

In apparatus of the portable type the rotating atomizing element is necessarily of somewhat restricted diameter and inorder to attain anything approaching the critical speed necessary for proper atomization the angular velocity of the atomizing element must be very great; In all humidifying apparatus heretofore known to me, the shaft upon which the atomizing disk is mounted has been journalled in fixed bearings and as it is a very diflicult matter exactly to balance a rotating. part, the atomizing disk with its shaft and appurtenances when driven at exceedingly high speeds is thrown out of balance due to the failure of its center of gravity actually to coincide with its axis of rotation so that vibration is set up and the unpleasant noise is produced.

In accordance with my present arrangement, the heavy base plate 23 sup orts the motor casing, the rotor and sha t of the motor, and also the rotary atomizing disk. In other words, the base plate 23 carries all of the moving parts of the apparatus and this base late is mounted upon a three point bearing urnished by the resilient elements 22. Moreover, by reason of the loose fit of the pins 24 in the openings 25 of the lllll IEO sleeves 21, the base plate with allof the moving parts is capable of a certain freedom of movement either to slide in a horizontal plane or to tilt vertically in substantially any direction, with this arrangement if the motor is driven at hi h velocity, the rotating parts automatica y assume a position suchthat the center of gravity of the rotat.

ing mass is coincident with the axis of rota-- tion, the axis of rotation varying in accordance with the mass and speed of the rotating parts, the action being comparable to that of a spinning top. The device thus operates in an almost noiseless manner so that no objection is made to its installation even in small rooms or; apartments. I am thus enabled to employ a high speed motor of the series wound type, such motors being relatively low in cost, small in size, and extremely durable and eflicient. At the same time it is unnecessary to use extreme care in balancing the rotating parts as has heretofore been thought necessary in the construction of such apparatus.

The entire device, with few exceptions may be made of sheet material and its exterior surfaces may be given any of the usual finishes commonly employed; for example, if desired, the dome member 35 may be nickel plated, while the receptacle and flange 13may be enamelled in any suitable colors. Moreover, the parts composing the structure may readily be separated if desired for inspection of the motor or other opeirating parts, or for cleaning the receptac e.

The operation of the atomizing disk and its cooperating vanes19 is substantially the same as that of the disk and vanes described in my Patent No. 1,439,319, December 19, 1922, to which reference may be had for a complete disclosure of this feature of the apparatus. In the present apparatus, however, I have not provided for a supplementary supply of liquid, depending upon the capacity of the receptacle 1 to furnish a sufficient quantity of liquid for a reasonable period of operation. This liquid may be poured in between the flange 13 and the dome 35, passing down between the vanes 19 and through the opening 12 into the receptacle. If desired, the flange member 9 may be provided with an opening 9' for the admission of liquid and for inspection of the interior of the receptacle. By the employment of the long tapered hub 34 which feeds the water to the under side of the disk, it is possible for the apparatus to operate successfully whether the receptacle be substantially full or nearly empty.

I claim:

1. A humidifier comprising liquid supply means, a rotary atomizing element, and means to support the atomizing element to permit it to move freely and thus to assume a position in space such that for any given speed of rotation all forces acting at an angle to the axis of .rotation are substantially balanced.

2. A humidifier comprising liquid supply "means, rotating parts including-an atomizer disk, and means supporting such rotating parts, the supporting means being free to move thereby permitting the position of the was of the rotating parts to vary in response to the speed of rotation. e

3. A humidifier comprising liquid supply means, a shaft, means for driving the shaft, an atomizer element secured to the shaft, and bearings for the shaft freely movable in a lateral direction to permit the rotating parts to assume a position for any given speed in which all of the forces acting at an angle to the axis of rotation are substantially balanced.

4. A humidifier comprising a liquid receptacle, a rotary shaft, an atomizing disk secured to the shaft, a driving element also secured to the shaft, and means supporting the shaft for free angular movement to permit the rotating parts to turn about an axis which is freely variable in response to the comtbined mass and speed of such rotating par s.

5. A humidifier comprising liquid supply means, a normally vertical shaft, an atomizing member secured to the shaft. a driving element secured to the shaft, and a plurality of spaced supports for the shaft, the supports being constructed and arranged to permit the shaft and the parts carried thereby to tilt freely.

6, A humidifier comprising a liquid receptacle, a normally vertical shaft depend ing into the receptacle, and an atomizer device secured to the lower end of the shaft, motive means secured to the upper end of the shaft, and freely movable bearings for the'shaft permitting the latter to assume such an angle in accordance with variations in speed and the m'ass'of the parts turning with the shaft that for any given speed all forces which act at an angle to the axis of rotation are substantially balanced.

7. A humidifier comprising a liquid receptacle, a shaft depending into the receptacle, an atomizer devices secured to the shaft, a base plate carrying bearings for the shaft, and supporting means for the base plate constructed and arranged to permit free angular movement of the base plate and the parts carried thereby in response to unbalanced forces acting at. an angle to the axis of the shaft.

8. A humidifiercomprising a liquid. receptacle, an atomizer disc disposed therein, said disc having a'normally vertical drive shaft, and means for supporting the shaft and disc comprising a heavy base plate, spaced supports for said plate, at least two of said supports having vertical openings,

therein, and positioning pins carried by the base plate engaging the openings of the respective supports, said pins being of smaller diameter than said openings to permit the base plate to move freely relatively l to said supports.

9. A humidifier comprising liquid supply means, a rotary atomizer disc having a porting the shaft and the disc comprising a plate, spaced pins projecting downwardly from said plate,'and resilient supports corresponding in number to said pins. said supports having openings in which the respective pins fit loosely.

10. A humidifier comprising a receptacle having a top opening. a positioning ring fitting within the opening, a cover of a diameter substantially smaller than that of the opening supported by the ring, liquid atomizing means within the receptacle, and an outwardly and upwardly flaring flange projecting from the top of the ring.

11. A humidifier comprising a shallow rewardly and inwardly and terminating in a substantially vertical flange defining a top opening, a positioning ring fitting within said vertical flange, atomizing means supported by the ring, and a flaring outwardly and upwardly projecting flange-adjacent to the upper edge of the receptacle.

12. A humidifier comprising a receptacle having curved side walls extending upwardly, inwardly, and then upwardly again, the last named upwardly extending portion of the walls defining a top opening. a positioning ring fitting in said opening, a cover supported by said ring, the cover being of a diameter substantially less than that of the top opening to provide an annular discharge passage, atomizing means Within the receptacle below the cover and a flange flaring outwardly adjacent to the opening.-

13. A humidifier comprising a receptacle having a top opening, acover of a diameter substantially smaller than that of the opening, a removable spacing and positioning ring seated in the top opening of the receptacle and supporting the cover in concentric relation to the opening, and liquid atomizing means supported by the cover.

14. A humidifier comprising a receptacle having a top opening, a positioning ring fitting therein, said ring having an inwardly and downwardly inclined flange. a vertical flange depending from the inner edge of the inclined flange, a substantially horizontal annular flange projecting inwardly from the lower edge of the vertical flange, a cover member resting upon the substantially horizontal flange and held in concentric position by the vertical flange, and atomizing means disposed within the cover member.

15. A humidifier comprising a receptacle having a top opening. a positioning ring fitting snugly therein. said ring having an inwardly directed flange, a cover member supported by said flange in concentric relation to the opening in the receptacle, the

the receptacle below inwardly directed flange of the positioning aeoaaee ring having an opening therethrough, and

atomlzing means disposed within the receptacle below the cover member.

16. A humidifier comprising a shallow receptacle larger at its base than at its top and having a top opening provided with side walls having bayonet slots therein, a positioning ring fitting within the opening having projections engaging the bayonet slots, said ring having a flange flaring outwardly beyond the edge of the opening and an inwardly directed annular flange, a cover mounted upon the annular flange, an atomizing device below the cover, a motor mount- Gil upon the cover for actuating the atomizing device, and means supported by the cover for enclosing the motor. ceptacle having side walls extending up- 17. A humidifier comprising a receptacle having a flaring member at its top, a cover member concentr cally disposed within the receptacle and having a series of vanes spaced from the receptacle to provide an annular discharge passage, a motor disposed centrally above the cover, a shell enclosing the motor, an electrical conductor for the motor traversing the discharge passage. and a tube extending from said flaring member to the shell and enclosing the conductor, liquid atomizing means Within the receptacle, and connections between the motor and atomizing means.

18; A humidifier. comprising a liquid receptacle. an atomizer disc disposed within the receptacle, said disc having a normally vertical shaft, a cover for the receptacle having a substantially horizontal portion provided with an opening for the shaft, spaced supports carried by the cover, some at,least of said supports having vertical bores. and supporting means for the shaft and disc comprising a member resting upon said supports and pins projecting from said member and fitting loosely in the bores in the respective supports to limit relative rotation ofsaid member and the cover.

19. A humidifier comprising a liquid receptacle, a cover therefor having acentral opening and other openings spaced symmetrically about said central opening, an atomizer disc within the re"eptacle having a shaft projecting through the central opening, and means for supporting the disc comprising a member upheld by the cover, said member having downwardly projecting elements passing through said symmetrically spaced openings of the cover and being free at all times to tilt into an inclined position relatively to the plane of the cover,

20. A humidifier comprising a liquid recept-a le, an atomizing disc disposed therein, said disc having a normally vertical drive shaft. means for supporting said shaft and disc comprising a plate having a plurality of spaced pins projecting downwardly from its under surface, a corresponding ton ire

eoaaoe number of annular supports upon which said plate normally rests and through which removably supported upon the flange, and

a motor driven atomizing device supported by the cover.

22. A humidifier comprising a liquid receptacle having an open top, a positioning ring fitting within the open top of the receptacle, said ring having an annular supporting flange, a cover member provided with a peripheral series of substantially vertical vanes supported upon said annular flange, a motor mounted upon the cover member and an atomizing disk driven by the motor positioned below the top of the cover and inside the series of vanes.

23. A humidifier comprising a liquid receptacle having a top opening provided with a substantially vertical inner wall, a positioning ring fitting within the opening, means removably securing the ring in position, a cover having a peripheral series of depending vanes supported by the ring, and a motor driven atomizer disk disposed beneath the cover and wholly supported by the latter.

2%. A. humidifier comprising a liquid receptacle having atop opening defined by a substantially vertical flange, the flange having bayonet slots therein, a positioning ring fitting within said flange and provided with projections engaging the bayonet slots, a cover carried by the ring, and atomizing means supported by the cover.

25. A humidifier comprising a receptacle having an open top, a positioning ring having a substantially vertical flange fitting within said top, said ring also having an inwardly projecting ledge and an annular sub stantially horizontal flange, a cover member supported upon the horizontal flange, and atomizing means carried by the cover.

26. A humidifier comprising a receptacle having a top opening, a positioning ring comprising a portion fitting snugly within a flange extending inwardly from said portion of the ring, a cover member of a diameter smaller than the to opening of the receptacle, means carried y the inwardly extending flange of the positioning ring for holding the cover in concentric spaced relation to the sides of the top opening of the receptacle and atomizing means within the receptacle.

27. A humidifier comprising liquid supply means, a normally vertical shaft, an atomizer disc secured to the shaft, a base plate supporting bearings for the shaft, pins projecting downwardly from the base plate, and supports corresponding in number to the pins having openings in which the pins fit loosely.

28. A humidifier comprising a liquid receptacle, a cover therefor having a central opening together with other openings spaced symmetrically about said central opening,

an atomizer disc within the receptacle having a shaft projecting through the central opening in the covering, a resilient plu seated in each of said symmetrically space openings of the cover, and means -for supporting the disc and its shaft comprising a plate normally resting upon the upper ends of the several plugs, said plate being free to lift from any one of said plugs.

29. A humidifier comprising a liquid receptacle, a cover therefor having a central opening and other openings spaced about said central opening, an atomizer disc within the receptacle, said disc having a shaft projecting through the central opening of the cover, a spool shaped plug seated in each of said other openings of the cover,

the upper and lower flanges of each of'said plugs being disposed respectively at opposite sides of the cover, and means for supporting the disc with its shaft comprising a member normally resting freely upon the r upper ends of said plugs, said member having downwardly projecting pins fitting loosely in the central bores of the several plugs.

30. A humidifier comprising a liquid receptacle, an atomizing disc disposed therein, said disc having a normally vertical drive shaft, means for supporting said shaft and disc comprising a plate having a plurality of spaced pins projecting downwardly from Gill its under surface, a corresponding number of annular supports, upon which said plate normally rests and through which the several pins pass loosely, and an electric motor mountedupon said plate having the axis of its rotor aligned with the'axis of the drive shaft.

Signed by me at Pawtucket, R. I., this 16th day of October, 1923.

. BERTRAM M. MILLS. 

